Write on ṢūratulFātiḥah preferably in Arabic, translate it into English and comment on its divisions.

Answer Details

Suratul-Fatihah (the Opening) in Arabic

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ۝

English translation

1. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
2. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
4. Master of the Day of Judgement.
5. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
6. Guide us to the straight path.
7. The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your favour, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

Comment on its divisions

Suratul-Fatihah is seven verses and is called Umm al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book) and as-Sab‘ al-Mathani (the seven oft-repeated verses). In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says He has divided the prayer (i.e. this Surah) into two halves between Himself and His servant:

1. The first part (praise of Allah), belonging to Allah: verses 1-4, the opening basmalah, praise of Allah as Lord of the worlds, His attributes of mercy, and His mastery of the Day of Judgement.
2. The pivot / middle verse, shared between Allah and the servant: verse 5, "You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help", combining worship (a right of Allah) and seeking help (a need of the servant).
3. The last part (the servant's request), belonging to the servant: verses 6-7, the plea for guidance to the straight path, the path of the favoured, and refuge from the path of those who earned anger and those who went astray.

The Surah thus teaches tawhid (Oneness of Allah), sincere worship, reliance on Allah, and the constant prayer for guidance. It is recited in every unit of every prayer, and the prayer is invalid without it.